Back in 2008, Rolex announced the addition of an exciting new model to their lineup, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA. If you’re a fan of big watches, the Rolex Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA will most likely be your cup of tea.
A watch developed for extreme depths, guaranteed waterproof to 3,900 meters (12,800 feet), the Rolex Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA required the design of a case with a unique architecture, the RINGLOCK SYSTEM. This innovation patented by Rolex consists of a combination of three distinctive features.
The ring is positioned inside the middle case between the crystal and the caseback and it withstands exerted water pressure. The middle case is made from 904L steel. To resist pressure, the synthetic sapphire crystal is slightly domed and substantially thicker than the crystals of other Oyster models.. The caseback is made of titanium and the watch features a helium valve which during the decompression phase of a dive, releases gases that enter the watch.
Key Features: Case Architecture / Water Resistance
- High-performance Ring — Set inside the middle case of the watch between the crystal and the case back, the high-performance nitrogen-alloyed stainless steel ring withstands the pressure exerted by water on the crystal and the case back. The middle case is made from 904L steel.
- Sapphire Crystal — To resist pressure, the synthetic sapphire crystal is slightly domed and substantially thicker than the crystals of other Oyster models.
- Helium Valve — Made of high-performance stainless steel. Its size is adapted to the dimensions of the case to achieve optimal waterproofness. The helium valve is a safety feature, which, during the decompression phase, releases the gases that infiltrate into the watch during caisson dives.
Indeed, between dives at great depths, professional divers use pressurized caissons in which they breathe high-pressure gas mixtures, notably containing helium, a very volatile gas that penetrates into the watch. As the diver resurfaces, the helium valve prevents damage to the watch.
- Triplock Winding Crown — Equipped with three seals and screwed onto the case, completes this ingenious waterproof system.
Key Features: Display / Legibility
- Bezel — The Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA is equipped with a unidirectional rotatable bezel with a 60-minute graduated black CERACHROM disc that allows the diver to precisely track his dive time. Engraved in the CERACHROM, the numerals and the graduations are filled with platinum through the use of a PVD technique patented by Rolex. The zero marker of the graduated bezel, represented by a triangle, is visible longer at night or in the depths of the ocean thanks to a capsule containing a new luminescent material that emits a blue glow.
- Dial — To enhance legibility, the indexes and hands are wider and partially coated with the same new luminescent material and also emit a blue color.
- Movement — The Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA is equipped with calibre 3135, known for its chronometric precision, its reliability and its robustness; it also features a PARACHROM hairspring with high resistance to shocks and magnetic fields. Certified as a chronometer by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), the movement has a 48-hour power reserve.
- Bracelet — Manufactured from solid 904L steel, the Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA bracelet can be adjusted for wear over a diving suit up to 7 mm thick thanks to a double extension system.
- Glidelock Clasp — Allows for fine adjustments to the bracelet length, up to 18 mm by increments of 1.8 mm, without removing the watch.
The watch weighs 222gms with a case diameter of 43mm. That being said, some would say that the width of the bracelet could be wider to accommodate the increased case size. Nonetheless, the Rolex Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA is a beautiful watch with stunning looks.
